13 Camping Hacks You Need to Know Before Staying at Crystal Lake
Survive the Weekend With These Totally Normal Tips
If you’re planning a trip to the famously scenic (and totally not cursed) Camp Crystal Lake, you might want to brush up on more than just your fire-starting skills. Nestled deep in the woods, this lakeside getaway offers beautiful hiking trails, canoeing opportunities, and just a slight chance of unexplainable disappearances.
To make sure your camping experience is killer (in a good way), here are 13 tried-and-true hacks that just might keep you off the missing persons board by Monday.
1. Avoid Cabins With Names
If the cabin has a name like "Death's Hollow" or even something deceptively cozy like "Campers' Cove," consider pitching a tent instead. Statistically, named cabins attract more...attention.
2. Bring Extra Flashlights
And we mean A LOT of them. Don’t rely on your phone flashlight. You'll want at least three backups, preferably ones that don't flicker menacingly every time you're near a creepy dock or abandoned canoe.
3. No Skinny Dipping After Sundown
Yes, it looks romantic in theory. But after dark, Crystal Lake has a way of turning even the most Instagrammable moments into cautionary tales.
4. Stay With the Group
Wandering off alone into the woods to "check on that noise" might work out great for your character development, but less so for your survival.
5. Noise-Canceling Earbuds? Leave ‘Em at Home
You’ll want to hear everything. Every twig snap, every branch rustle. Ignorance is not bliss at Crystal Lake.
6. Don’t Investigate Strange Sounds
See above. Curiosity didn't just kill the cat—it wiped out three counselors and a guy named Steve last summer.
7. Pack Red Clothing With Caution
This might be superstition, but campers in red always seem to go first. Maybe stick with earth tones and hope you blend in with the foliage.
8. Respect the Locals
That old guy on a bike telling you you’re doomed? Listen. He’s not being dramatic; he’s being accurate.
9. Bring a First Aid Kit
Not just for minor cuts and bruises. Think bigger: slashes, punctures, maybe even a tourniquet. It never hurts to be prepared (but it might hurt if you’re not).
10. Keep the Van Gassed Up
If you drove to the lake, don’t let your gas tank dip below half. You never know when you’ll need to make a dramatic getaway down a winding forest road.
11. Know the Weather Forecast
Storms roll in fast over Crystal Lake, and nothing complicates a terrifying night in the woods like a power outage and a mudslide.
12. Lock Your Food Up Tight
You don’t want to attract bears, raccoons, or...anything else. Just trust us on this one.
13. Don't Say, "I'll Be Right Back"
Just don’t. It's bad energy. Say, "I'm staying here, right next to the fire, until daylight."
Happy camping! And hey, if you hear something behind you—maybe just...run.
